Automatic switch for railway-crossings.



No. 644,759. Patented Mar. 6, I900. J, E BEBKSTBESSEIL AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR RAILWAY CRDSSINGS.

(Application filed July 3, 1899.)

(No Model.)

TNE NORKIIFETER cu. PHOTO-LUNG, wnsumcmu, a. c

UNiTED STAT S PATENT EiGE.

JOHN EMORY BERKSTRESSER, SYLACAUGA, ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH, FOR RAILWAY-CROSSINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IEatent No. 644,759, dated March 6, 1900. Application filed m 3,1399. Serial no. 722,709. .(no model.)

To all whom it may cancer-rt;

Be it known that-I, JOHN EMORY BERK- STRESSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sylacauga, in, the county of Talladega and State of Alabama, haveinvented a new and useful Automatic Switch for Railway-Crossings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in automatic switches for railway-crossings.

The object ofthepresent invention is to improve the construction of automatic switches and to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensive one adapted for railway-crossings and capable of being automatically operated by the wheels of a train to afford a continuous rail for the same.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a crossing provided with an an tomatic switch constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar viewon line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4; is a detail perspective View of a portion of one of the shafts or spindles, illustrating the manner of connecting the resilient rods to the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the pivoted frogs or switch-plates. Fig. 6 is a similar View of one of the quadrant-shaped bearing-plates.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 1 designate stationary rails of a crossing arranged at an angle, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, and spaced apart at their adjacent ends to provide passages for the flan gesof the wheels of a train. At each of the corners of the crossing is arranged a pivoted switch-plate or frog 2, fixed to a vertical shaft or spindle 3 and adapted to be rotated a quarter of a revolution to complete either of the adjacent rails. The pivoted switch-plate, which is supported by a quadrant-shaped bearing-plate 4, is of greater thickness than the width of the flange of a wheel to prevent the same from coming in contact with the bearing-plate. The hear- Q ing-plate 4, which is provided with a recess 5 to receive the shaft or'spindle 3, is firmly supported upon shoulders 6, form ed by recessing the adjacent ends of the rails.

The companion switch-plates 2, which move in unison, are connected with each other by a pair of inner connecting-rods7 and an intermediate lever S, pivoted between its ends to a suitable support and secured to the inner adjacent ends of the rods 7. The outerends of. the rods 7 are curved at 9 and are secured to and are adapted to extend around the shafts or spindles 3, which are provided with eyes to receive corresponding eyes of the ends 9 of the rods 7.

The shafts or spindles are operated by means of depressible bars 10, arranged at each of the rails and pivoted at their outer ends at 11 and located at the inner sides of the rails in position to be depressed by the flanges of the wheels of a passing train. The inner or upper ends of the bars 10, which are disposed at an inclination, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and dot the accompanying drawings, are

connected by depending links 12 with bellcrank levers 13, fulcrumed at 14 on suitable supports. The outer arms of the bell-crank levers are connected with the said links 12, and their inner arms are connected to resilient rods 15, which extend to the shafts or spindles. The outer connecting-rods 15, which are constructed of spring-steel or other suitable material, have'their inner ends 16 curved and attached to the shafts or spindles similar to the outer ends of the inner connecting rods.

A train approaching the crossing from either direction will depress the adj acentoperatingbars 10 and turn the pivoted switch-plates longitudinally of the rails occupied by the approaching train and afford a continuous rail for the same.

In order to lock the switch-plates in position to prevent them from being accidentally turned out of alinement with the closed rails, the outer resilient connecting-rodsare provided near their curved ends 16 with lugs or enlargements 17, which when moved inward toward the crossing are adapted to engage and interlock with stops 18, located in the paths of the lugs or enlargements. The stops are provided with antifriction sleeves or rollers 18, and after the lugs or enlargements pass them they hold the switch-plates in po- 'sition until the switch is positively operated by the depression of the bars 10.

The rails are preferably su pported by braces 19, located at the outer sides of the rails and extending across the angles formed by the same, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 ofthe accompanying drawings. Guard-rails 20 are preferably pro rided, and they are arranged at the inner sides of the main rails and spaced therefrom to receive the depressible operating-bars 10 between them and the stationary rails 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

It will be seen that the automatic switch, which is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, possesses great strength and durabilityand that it is positive andreliable in operation and is automatically operated by a train approaching in either direction. It will also be apparent that the switch-plates are set to afford a continuous rail for a train and that they are locked in such position by the resilient connectingrods and the stops.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the stationary rails of a crossing, of pivoted switch-plates arranged at the angles formed by the rails and adapted to complete the latter, depressible operatingbars adapted to be engaged by the wheels of a train and located beyond the crossing, outer connecting-rods extending from the depressible bars to the switch-plates, the inner connecting-rods extending from the said switchplates, and the levers connecting the adjacent ends of the inner rods, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with the stationary rails of a crossing, of movable switch-plates provided with shafts or spindles, the connecting-rods having curved ends arranged horizontally and hinged to the shaftsor spindles and adapted to extend partially around the same, and operating devices'arranged at the outer ends of the connecting-rods, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movable switch-plate having a shaft or spindle, a stop, a resilient connecting-rod extending from the shaft or spindle, adapted to rotate the same and provided with a log, said rod being capable of springing laterally to engage the lug with the stop and disengage it therefrom, and means for operating the connecting-rod, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a switch-plate having a shaft or spindle, a resilient connecting-rod having a curved end hinged to the shaft or spindle, said connecting-rod being provided with a lug, and a stop arranged in the path of the lug and adapted to be engaged by the same, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the stationary rails of a a crossing provided at their adjacent ends with shoulders, bearingplates supported by the shoulders, pivoted switch-plates arranged on the bearing-plate, and means for operating the switch-plates, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the stationary rails of a crossing, provided at their adjacent ends with shoulders, bearing-plates supported on the shoulders, and braces extending across the outer angles of the rails and connecting the latter, of pivoted switch-plates arranged on the bearing-plates, and means for operating the switch-plates, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EMORY BERKSTRESSER.

Witnesses:

J. W. LANGLEY, E. W. LEDBETTER. 

